Test Drive!

No More Tow Bar!

On my next day off, I decided to go ahead and rid Maggie of the Flintstones look. I sanded, painted, and installed the seat box. I removed the hood and wings, and worked over the brakes one last time. I adjusted and bled them until I tossed in the towel. Maggie had a 109 rearend swapped in by a previous owner and still had the 11 inch brakes on the rear. The larger 109 wheel cylinders simply had to much volume for the 88" master cylinder's bore. I clamped the rear flex hose with a line clamp, and got a decent pedal with only the front brakes. Amazingly, after sitting up for 24 years in the Louisiana humidity, however, the clutch was not stuck. I still did not have seats for Maggie, so I removed one from Beula. I placed a chock across the driveway about 20 feet away, cranked Maggie up, placed her in low range, and slowly eased down the drive. The brakes worked. It was time to take her out on the road.

Things I learned test driving:
3rd & 4th Synchro seems to be gone
High Range works better when the lever stays forward
The engine is strong, builds power well
The Rocky Mountain Parabolics are great!

Dead Man Alert!
Please remember that these pages are for entertainment.
They are not a how to guide on vehicle maintenance or restoration.
Please obey the laws in your state.
On a newly restored vehicle,
make sure you have insurance and a valid license plate
prior to going on the road.
Make sure your brakes are in good working order.
Driving with only front brakes is dangerous!
Test your brakes and suspension gradually.
Wear your seatbelt.
Attach your doors if required in your state.
The Law may be watching.
For more of this legal CYA stuff, click here.

[ Rover Home ] [ Maggie Home ]
[ Rover Assessment ] [ Steering Straight ]
[ Minimal Wiring ] [ Worth $500? ] [ Fuel Supply ]
[ Idle Thoughts ] [ Tough Decisions ] [ Spinning Wheels ]
[ Stripping Down ] [ The Bulkhead ] [ The Bulkhead 2 ]
[ Maggie's Motor ] [ Chassis Prep ] [ POR15 & Parabolics ]
[ Synergy ] [ The Breakfast ] [ Waking the Neighbors ]
[ A New Look ] [ Test Drive! ] [ Designing Woman ]
[ Mystery Solved ] [ More Juju ] [ Whoa Maggie! ]
[ Finish Line! ] [ Epilogue ]
[ Due Thank Yous ]

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